Letters to the Editor
Awaiting debate with bated breath
Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, We should be grateful that the CIP President Nga Jessie offered an opinion, even if it has been suggested that he was not the author of the letter he signed, dated Wednesday April 11. But because it is from the CIP president it would have to then be an official position from the Cook Islands Party. If anything, it is precisely what helps build a better democracy; constructive criticism giving a clear indication of where each party stands on different areas of public policy. It is positive to the extent necessary to help voters draw their own conclusions on party policy, helping them make informed decisions in the June elections. So, what can we take from the CIP president’s letter? We can now establish the CIP position in at least four areas, those being the four areas the opposition raised with the New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern in February of this year in our open letter. The CIP president says the government is working on electoral reform. He might have this wrong. I think he means the Cook Islands Party, not the government? In general, a government matter would require a bill or an amendment to the Electoral Act, and come to parliament, but before that there would be debate – similar debate as we have seen in the last few weeks on this subject alone. So how the CIP president knows about reforming our Electoral Act when MPs don’t is a curious point. I hope Mr Jessie in a future letter can clarify this. If it is political reform policy that the CIP president is referring to from the Cook Islands Party, now that would be a first, and it would be prudent to now provide to the public the CIP position on political reform. Let’s see it, let’s debate it. We don’t want to read about it after the elections. I seriously doubt that any CIP reform initiatives on this subject would be serious enough to include voter equity. We wait with bated breath. In the same vein, when the CIP president responds, which I hope he does, can he tell us whether he is aware that his government on their recent ‘state visit’ to New Zealand had on its agenda commerce legislation under the guise of ‘consumer protection’ up for discussion and were simultaneously seeking assistance from New Zealand? How does that assistance compare with our suggestion to New Zealand prime minister Ardern as an alternative? Again, I doubt that Mr Jessie is aware of this, otherwise the letter would have been crafted differently. Is this the proverbial left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? Finally, from the letter in the final two points, both on ‘Law and order’ and ‘Audits’, what is your policy then? Remain with the status quo, and do nothing? If it is then say so – advise the public that your policy is largely to do and say nothing and that the status quo of one law for all, is, for as long as the law doesn’t affect our leaders remain unchanged and to seek no new recommendations. If the CIP are happy with the breaches of the Constitution when it comes to reporting both ‘unauthorised expenditure’, eight years of failure and Crown Accounts’ six years of failure in this area are acceptable to you and the public then please say so. If you have a method that will fix it other than passing legislation to retrospectively cancel this responsibility, like the core tax writeoff, then inform the public. I look forward to robust debate in the weeks ahead on these important subjects. James Beer Democratic Party Candidate 2018
Machiavellian machinations and mismanagement
Monday 16 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Well, well! Following the ‘breaking news’ announcement on CITV last week (which was apparently also revealed earlier during the CI Radio 6pm news session), the QR Tom Marsters has dissolved parliament (as advised by PM Puna to His Excellency of course), with the date of the 2018 election set as Thursday, June 14.
Time to make a change
Friday 13 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Aotearoa, ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’, is my country of birth – one parent from here, one parent from there.
The Cook Islands 'injustice system'
Friday 13 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Wilkie Rasmussen’s CINews article from last Tuesday regarding the state of the Cook Islands justice system’s obvious prejudice, which clearly favours the ‘elite’ within our society (as also alluded to by Kata’s ‘Ministry of Injustice’ cartoon in Wednesday’s paper, which was also very much spot on!), really leaves a sour taste in my mouth, as it should do for all of us.
Bishop's reform ideas deemed 'devious'
Thursday 12 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Teina Bishop’s ideas on electoral reform (CI News April 9) are a re-run of what he said several years ago, and are as devious now as they were then.
CIP president hits back
Thursday 12 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I note the following points made by the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in CINews on March 10.
Turepu wrong choice to discuss food security
Thursday 12 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, On April 7 CINews ran a story about how the Minister of Agriculture, Kiriau Turepu was off to attend a “high level” conference in Fiji which was going to address food and nutrition security.
Housing help request 'embarrassing'
Wednesday 11 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Embarrassing is the word that comes to mind.
Matenga situation sad, says CIP voter
Wednesday 11 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, As a Titikaveka CIP voter and supporter, I am sad to see what is happening in our village and all the negative publicity, especially that surrounding Margaret Matenga.
Report burglaries, no matter how small
Wednesday 11 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, A friend from Titikaveka told me on Monday that he’d been burgled over the weekend.
Another view on NZ relationship
Tuesday 10 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I appreciate John Scott’s thought-provoking contributions through your newspaper on important national issues.
Subsidy timing is'awfully suspicious'
Tuesday 10 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The advertisement/news release from MFEM secretary Garth Henderson in CINews on Friday, April 6 about a shipping subsidy to the Northern Pa Enua seems awfully suspicious.
Conflict of interest in Ponia investigation?
Tuesday 10 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, It is disturbing that the investigation into whatever it is that Marine Resources head Ben Ponia did or didn’t do that got him suspended will be done by Russell Thomas, the Public Service Commissioner.
Tall poppy syndrome alive and well
Monday 9 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Having followed former Silver Fern great Margaret Matenga's foray into Cook Islands politics over the past few months, I have concluded that the "tall poppy syndrome" is well and truly alive in this country.
Relaxing music expensive
Monday 9 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, This is an open letter to the management of CITC Supermarket.
Please don't panic pastor, it's just fake news!
Monday 9 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, With reference to a regular column writer in the weekly paper: it seems Pastor Ngarima George has gone crazy, along with millions of social media users, regarding the statement reputedly made by Pope Francis, that "Hell does not exist".
CIP's broken reform promises…
Monday 9 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The Cook Islands Party, leadership through Henry Puna promised political reform quite early into its first term of Government.
Undersea cable needs discussing
Monday 9 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Oh great, the new undersea cable is going to cost less. Less than what I ask our prime minister, because he never told us before!
Reality of independence journey
Friday 6 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Watching the debate on our ascendance to developed status with own seat at the UN play out in the media, I could be excused for thinking those arguing the case for remaining aid-dependent on New Zealand are high on “grass” and looking, but not seeing, our reality.
Accountability needed
Friday 6 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I cannot sit back and watch the endless dodgy dealing that seem to have been the mainstream operation of this CIP government since they were mandated by the people of this country to run our country eight years ago.